Issa Hayatou will become Confederation of African Football (CAF) Honorary President next month, the organisation confirmed at its General Assembly today.

Hayatou served as CAF President from 1987 to 2017, before beating unseated by Madagascan official Ahmad.

The decision to award Hayatou the honorary title was made at the CAF Executive Committee meeting yesterday, before ratification came at the General Assembly today in Egypt.

A special ceremony is expected to take place in Hayatou’s home nation Cameroon next month.

CAF said the decision recognised a "renowned personality of African football for his work," with the title "saluting his immense role in the development of African football".

The CAF Executive Committee and General Assembly did not feature Hayatou’s successor Ahmad, with the official last month receiving a five-year ban from football from the FIFA Ethics Committee.

Ahmad has been accused of ethics breaches, including the mismanagement of funds during his turbulent four-year term at the helm of CAF.

The Madagascan official has vowed to appeal the sanction at the Court of Arbitration for Sport and has claimed the FIFA Ethics Committee expedited his ban to prevent him from being re-elected President of the African body.

The election is scheduled to take place next year.

The meeting was instead chaired by Constant Omari, CAF first vice-president, who has assumed the Interim Presidency.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino participated early in the meeting via videolink, with the Swiss official claiming Ahmad’s sanction was "very sad".

"It is clear that on a personal level, it made me very sad," said Infantino said, according to the BBC.

"We have to respect the decision of the independent bodies in FIFA - that is clear."

CAF reported that it expects an annual loss of $13 million (£9.8 million/€10.7 million), partly caused by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on its planned tournaments.

This includes the African Nations Championship in Cameroon, which was moved from 2020 to 2021.

The CAF Executive Committee

The 16-team tournament, which features African players based in their own domestic leagues, is expected to take place from January 16 to February 7.

CAF approved the development of its Women's Champions League, with the maiden edition of the tournament is expected to feature eight teams, including two from the host nation.

Qualifiers in six CAF zones will determine the other finalists.

The eight qualified teams will be drawn into two groups of four teams, followed by a knockout stage.

The competition will be held annually and during the second half of the year.

Following the first edition, subsequent competitions will feature one host representative and the defending champions taking part.

A bid process was launched to find the host of the 2021 tournament, as well as the venue for the final of both the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The CAF Super Cup between Egyptian side Al Ahly and RS Berkane from Morocco is expected to take place in the first half of 2021, after the organisation said there had been difficulties organising the event in Qatar.

The 2020 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal also had dates approved, with the event due to take place from May 23 to 29 in 2021.

CAF said its Executive Committee had also approved a Code of Conduct, compliance manual, conflict of interest directive, whistleblower policy and compliance monitoring programme as part of a range of governance reforms.

The next CAF Executive Committee meeting is due to take place in Yaoundé next month, prior to the start of the African Nations Championship.

By Michael Pavitt 

Umar Kremlev is the new President of AIBA ©AIBA

Russian Umar Kremlev has been elected President of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) after four rounds of voting at the organisation's virtual Extraordinary Congress today.

Kremlev, the secretary general of the Russian Boxing Federation and a member of the AIBA Executive Committee, received 86 votes to see off Boris van der Vorst of the Netherlands and Interim AIBA President Mohamed Moustahsane.

Van der Vorst claimed 45 votes in round four, with Moustahsane earning 19.

Azerbaijan's Suleyman Mikayilov was the first of the five candidates standing to become the first permanent AIBA President since Gafur Rakhimov stood down in March 2019 amid allegations he was involved in heroin trafficking, which he denies, to be eliminated from the contest.

Mikayilov was followed by Asian Boxing Confederation head Anas Al Otaiba, who failed to progress beyond round three.

Kremlev, mentioned in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) report used as the basis to suspend AIBA as the Olympic governing body for the sport and strip it of any involvement in the boxing tournament at Tokyo 2020 in June last year, defeated his challengers in round four having surpassed the absolute majority of 75 votes required for victory.

The Russian, also a first vice-president of the European Boxing Confederation, replaces Moustahsane, who had been in interim charge since Rakhimov resigned.

His main task will be to ensure AIBA's status with the IOC is restored in time for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.The Russian secured victory in the fourth round of voting in the virtual Presidential election ©ITG

The Russian secured victory in the fourth round of voting in the virtual Presidential election ©ITG

"Let me make it clear - the path to rebuilding AIBA is not easy," said Kremlev.

"It will not happen overnight.

"We have to unite together and work with one mission, and one mission alone: rebuilding the credibility and trust that AIBA once had in the minds of sports people worldwide and that includes, of course, restoring AIBA’s Olympic status."

Kremlev had pledged to wipe AIBA's debt, thought to be around $20 million (£15 million/€16.5 million), if he was elected President.

A similar promise made by the Russian after the IOC suspended AIBA's recognition, and an alleged lack of due diligence regarding the officer, was raised as a concern by the IOC Inquiry Committee in its report last year.

The IOC Inquiry Committee, led by Executive Board member Nenad Lalovic, said in its report that "research in the public domain shows that Mr Umar Kremlev changed his name from Umar Lutfuloev; his various business ventures seem unlikely to be able to secure sufficient personal savings to cover AIBA’s debt".

"Given the aforementioned information regarding Mr Umar Kremlev and the fact that his letter did not provide any explanations on the origin of the funds to be used, the IOC Inquiry Committee questions the seriousness of the due diligence carried out by AIBA before the announcement to the media," the report said.

"Background checks on the origin of funds from external parties is part of basic standards of good governance expected to be implemented by Olympic IFs."

Kremlev said eliminating the debt "will be the first priority" for AIBA under his leadership, which he said can be achieved "in the first six months".

"My administration will aim to raise $50 million (£38 million/€41 million) within two years, all of which will be used to rebuild AIBA," he added.

The election follows a campaign dogged by allegations, accusations and counter-claims against several of the candidates behind the scenes.

The IOC has also admitted it has concerns with unnamed candidates who had run for AIBA President.

By Liam Morgan 

Amira El Fadil, a commissioner for social affairs at the African Union, with Ghana Olympic Committee President Ben Nunoo Mensah ©Amira El Fadil

Ghana Olympic Committee President Ben Nunoo Mensah met with a key figure within the African Union (AU) to discuss preparations for the 2023 African Games.

Amira El Fadil, a commissioner for social affairs at AU, confirmed she held talks with Mensah at the recent Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA) in Egyptian capital Addis Ababa.

During the meeting, El Fadil received an update on plans for the African Games and how to "enhance" the collaboration with ANOCA and AU.

El Fadil, a former Minister of Social Welfare and Social Insurance for the Sudanese Government and a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency Executive Committee, also spoke at the ANOCA EGA.

"Sport brings people together and is creating opportunities for empowerment and development of individuals and societies," wrote El Fadil in a tweet after the EGA.

"It's therefore the solemn duty for all of us to ensure that we use sport as a tool for inclusive participation and continued support, especially for those who are marginalised in society."

Ghana is preparing to stage the African Games for the first time after securing the hosting rights in October 2018.

Today I hv received the President of the @GhanaOlympic Committee, Mr Ben Bunion Mensah, at the margin of the Extraordinary General Assembly of #ANOCA. We had discussion on the preparation of the 2023 African Games & how to enhance collaboration with @ACNOA_ANOCA & @_AfricanUnion pic.twitter.com/WwFIAD66M6

— Amira Elfadil (@AmiraDSA) December 6, 2020

Plans are in place to build a new 50,000-capacity stadium which is expected to cost $200 million (£152 million/€168 million).

"The facilities to be constructed include a 50,000 capacity Olympic Stadium complex, multi-purpose sports halls for all indoor sports, aquatic centres for swimming and tennis courts," said Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The announcement of the new facilities in November coincided with the Organising Committee being officially sworn in by Akufo-Addo at a ceremony.

Speaking to News Ghana, Mensah expressed his desire to stage the event in "grand style" and encouraged "corporate Ghana" to consider the Games as a big event.

The previous edition took place last year in Rabat, the first hosted by Morocco following the country's readmission to the African Union in January 2017.

It attracted entries from 4,386 athletes representing 53 countries, who took part in 340 medal events across 26 sports.

More than 5,000 athletes from over 50 countries are expected to compete at the Games in Ghana in three years’ time.

Final dates have still to be announced for the event, which is expected to be held in Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast.

By Geoff Berkeley 

Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich has been nominated for FIFA The Best Men’s Player of the Year for 2020, together with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Juventus’ Cristiano Ronaldo.

The women’s award will be contested between Manchester City defender Lucy Bronze, Chelsea forward Pernille Harder, and Lyon defender Wendie Renard.

The FIFA The Best award is the rebirth of the FIFA World Player of the Year award, which ran parallel to the Ballon d’Or award from 1991 to 2009. The two awards then merged to create the FIFA Ballon d’Or from 2010 to 2015 before FIFA The Best was reintroduced in 2016.

Lewandowski, whose 55 goals helped Bayern win the Treble in 2019-20, said he was disappointed the Ballon d’Or award had been canceled due to COVID-19. But he has the chance to add his first FIFA The Best award as he goes up against winners Ronaldo, who has won it twice, and Messi, who won in 2019.

Ronaldo scored 31 goals in Serie A last term as Juventus won the title, while Messi hit 25 in La Liga. Lewandowski scored 34 in the Bundesliga to finish second in the European Golden Shoe list.

On the women’s side, Bronze and Renard were part of the Lyon side that won the Champions League last term. Harder was at Wolfsburg n the previous campaign and a runner-up in Europe’s main competition before moving to Chelsea.

The men’s top three goalkeepers were Liverpool’s Alisson, Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak, and Bayern’s Manuel Neuer. The best women between the posts for 2019-20 were Lyon’s Sarah Bouhaddi, Paris Saint-Germain’s Christiane Endler, and Alyssa Naeher, who plays for Chicago Red Stars as well as the USWNT.

Bayern boss Hansi Flick is up against Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp and Leeds’ Marcelo Bielsa for the best men’s manager, while Lyon’s Jean-Luc Vasseur, Chelsea’s Emma Hayes, and Sarina Wiegman will battle it out on the women’s side.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ali Royals Soccer Academy To Launch Girls Football

Ali Royals Foundation will officially launch their Girls Football Programme on Sunday, 3rd January, 2021 at the Bonkus Park, Cape Coast in the Central Region

According to Coach Ali Yakubu, the CEO of the club, there will be a Special Cup Football Match to climax the occasion.

He announced that Ali Royals GIRLS will play Zenith Pathway GIRLS

He urged the people who love football in the town to come and support to grace the special day, and make it memorable

He appealed to companies and individuals to call 233242620623 to support grassroots football in Cape Coast and Ghana.

He commended the media, especially the FM Stations in the Central Region of Ghana.

“Please, your little support or packages can make us proud.. We really need your support or sponsorships” he said.

Contact Coach Ali @ +233242620623 if you want to help or support the project.

Coach Ali Yakubu said before another special end of the year football cup match to climax the year will involve Division 3 Sides; Ali Royals will meet Zenith Pathway on Sunday, 27th Dec2020 at the Bonkus Park.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

The promotion of international boxing returns to Nigeria tonight at the Sheraton Hotel in Lagos.

Some inspirational words of appreciation were delivered after the weigh-in by the President of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC).

The bill is packed with some of Nigeria’s best boxers who are expected to excite in the bouts as well as two brilliant Ghanaian pugilists.

There would be a10 Rounds Super-middleweight Contest between Isaac Ekpo (32-4-0-25 KOs) 176.3 Ibs/ 80Kg. and Sunday Ajuwa (13-6-0-10 KOs) 176.3 Ibs/80kg.

An 8 Rounds Featherweight Contestn will see Waidi "Skoro" Usman (15-5-0-13 KOs) 123.4/ 56.0Kg. against Tope "TP Rock" Musa (7-1-0-6 KOs) 124.5 Ibs/ 56.5 Kg.

Then a10 Rounds Super-middleweight contest between Abolaji Rasheed and Emmanuel Martey from Ghana.

In a 10 Rounds Bantam weight Contest, Manyo Plange of Ghana who weighed 116.8 Ibs /53kg. will meet Kabore Durina of Burkina Faso who also weighed 119.05 Ibs/54kg.

An 8 Rounds Bantam-weight contest will feature Adeyemi Opeyemi versus Azeez Bolarinwa, and a 6 Round Super-middleweight contest between Sulaimon Adeosun and Afeez Ganiu.

Adeyemi Adekanla will clash with Abdulahi Azeez in a super lightweight contest, as Edith Ogoke (160.9 Ibs /73kg) and Latifat Salami (160.9 Ibs/ 73kg) thrill with a 4 round middleweight contest.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Roll Ball President Johnson Kweku Gameli commends Ghanaians For Peaceful Elections

Mr. Johnson Kweku Gameli Kportufe President of the Roll Ball Federation Ghana (RBFG) has congratulated all Ghanaians and political parties after the successful General Elections 2020.

He said “we are one people in one beautiful nation, so we should not let our different political ideas and colours to divide us. We are a loving lovely people who believe in God, so we should not fear, but put all trust and hope in the Almighty for a better nation”.

He said the youth must not allow themselves to be deceived by politicians, but concentrate on their education or sports.

Mr. Gameli who is a keen sports enthusiast with vast experience in Roller Sports activities said he is out to introduce new games and sports into the country for Ghanaians to have more sporting disciplines to choose from.

He was one of the participants of the recent workshop organized for sports federations’ media attaches and secretary generals to promote branding through social media, and he commended the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), the Commonwealth Games Ghana (CGA) and the knowledgeable resource persons.

He called for more of such seminars and workshops to build the capacity of sports journalists and sports administrators.

He appealed to Ghanaians to support the government and the Ministry of Youth & Sports to stage the best African Games in Ghana in 2023.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Patrick Vieira Sacked After A Disastrous Run Of Five Straight Defeats

Arsenal legend, Patrick Vieira has been sacked as manager of Nice following a disastrous run of five straight defeats and a shock Europa League exit after they were knocked out by Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday night, December 3.

The French side released a statement on Friday morning confirming that they have dismissed former France international who took the job in June 2018 following Lucien Favre's move to Borussia Dortmund.

His Romanian assistant Adrian Ursea to take charge until they announce a new manager.

Nice said on Friday morning: 'Patrick Vieira is no longer the coach of OGC Nice as of today.

'During a meeting after last night's match, the Nice board informed Patrick Vieira of its decision to end their collaboration.

'Patrick Vieira has put all his heart and professionalism at the service of OGC Nice during the last 30 months of this shared venture.

'The Nice board would like to sincerely thank the former French international for his involvement in the development of the club and wish him the best for the rest of his coaching career.'

From Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghana captain Andre Ayew's goal against Sheffield Wednesday has been adjudged as the Swansea City's Westacres Goal of the Month for November.

The 30-year-old grabbed the equalizer for the Jack Army’s on the hour mark when he curled a left-footed effort from inside the box following a pass from Connor Roberts.

It was his sixth goal of the campaign for Swansea City in that game.

Ayew had two of his goals, one against Brentford and Sheffield Wednesday nominated for the award whilst  Connor Roberts’ brave header against Nottingham Forest and Chloe Chivers’ fantastic long-range strike for Swansea City Ladies against Cardiff Met were all selected.

The fans voted for the goal scored by the Swansea City star to win the award.

Andre Ayew has been impressive for the Welsh club this season and has scored seven goals in 16 appearances for the club.

Swansea City is hoping to clinch promotion to the Premier League and currently placed fourth on the league log with 30 points.

GhanaSoccerNet

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has announced new date for the start of the 2020/21 Ghana Women’s League.

The Ghana FA initially scheduled the women’s league season to commence on January 2, 2021 but has been changed to 15th-18th January, 2021.

This was contained in a release from the Ghana FA signed by the secretary of the association Prosper Harrison Addo.

The release further states that all the participating clubs are to submit their 30-member squad before December 15, 2020.

Meanwhile the winner of league will get Gh¢50,000 plus 40 good medals whiles the first runner up and the second runner will receive Gh¢30,000 plus 40 silver medals and Gh¢15,000 and 40 bronze medals respectively.

Ampem Dakoaa remains the defending champions of the Ghana Women’s Premier League after winning the title in the 2017-18 league season.

The 2019-20 league season reached week seven until the Ghana FA cancelled the season due to the outbreak of the devastating coronavirus.  

From Elizabeth Alhassan